Heather Von St. James~~ Her Story.

 

In 2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to a beautiful daughter Lily Rose, Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, Heather, together with her husband Cameron, embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care available. Their search eventually led them to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women’s hospital.

Dr. Sugarbaker recommended a relatively new surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, a groundbreaking treatment option offered through the International Mesothelioma Program. Although there were some risks associated with the procedure, it also carried promise for the best possible outcome. Heather, with full support from her husband and family, agreed to have the surgery.

It is happy to report that Heather beat the odds 8 years ago when she was given only 15 months to live. After the life saving surgery that included the removal of her left lung, she is now thriving more than ever! Because of her experience, Heather has asked me to help her spread awareness about mesothelioma – a cancer caused only by asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is an entirely preventable cancer and this is why she feels passionate about raising awareness and potentially save lives.

Thus, I have agreed and dedicated this Blog Post to Heather Von St. James and to sharing some of the eye-opening facts about this disease.

An individual may be at risk to develop mesothelioma if he or she was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. In most cases, the symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage. The earlier, the better!

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has dedicated a significant amount of time in making the web page: http://mesothelioma.com/   the best resource for patients, families, and individuals wanting to learn more about the disease. Their hope is that we can educate more people about this devastating disease and raise more awareness than ever!

I encourage you to share this blog with anyone who you know that could potentially be at risk; let’s get the word out!!